Labeling machine



March 19, 1935.

s. E. MORRAL LABELING MACHINEy Filed June 12, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 /7/5 TTO/CP/VE Y March 19, 1935. s. E. MORRAI.A

LABELING MACHINE 3 Sheets-SheefrI 2 Filed June l2, 1951 9 n Q m am. A MM Sw W :-QWIII- l I AA O O ||l| I .IM H Mm# I5 QN D 0 0 O O O 0 D O C 0 0 O O 0 O 0 O D 0 0 0 D O O O 0 O O O D o o Q m \N\\ c o .WN

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LABELING MACHINE Filed June l2, 1931 3 Sheets-Shea?I 3 E E Nw Patented Mar. 19, 1935 I v UNITED g mastino. Mannini:

Samuel E. Morral, liderral, hio, assigner of onehaii* to vriiiarn W. Morra, Moi-ral, @hic asignen-ien .time 12, iesrsenaine. staan 17 einem. (creia-5s) v This invention relates to a labeiing machine about sprocket wheels 16 carried by a shaft 17 Vand-Vis designed more particularly for applying at the forward end of the machine and about AlabelsV to cylindrical cans such as are cornrnonly sprocket wheels 13 carried by a shaft 19 at the use'd' for preserving vegetables and fruits. rear end of the machine. The vlowery stretch'ofA A5 -Orie object of the invention is to provide such this conveyor. extendsalong the runway and is -5f a machine which will be simple in its construction spaced such a distance therefrom that it will enarid highly efficient in operation at a relatively gage the cans on the runway and roll them along 'high speed. the saine. Preferably yieldable pressure rollers A further objectY of the invention' is to provide 20 are arranged above the lower stretch of the fimproved'\means'for applying paste to the cans conveyor to hold the .saine in firm contact with 10 "as they approach the pile of labels. the cans. These rollers arehere'shown ascarried l 'A further object of the invention is to provide by suitable supporting members 21 slidably improved means for applying paste to the uppermounted in a supplemental frame 22 supported mosti label of the pile. on the main frame by standards 23. Ordinarily 15 A lfurther object of the invention is to provide the weight of the rollers and the supporting 15 rneans for causing the cans to be delivered to the structures will provide the necessary pressure runway one at a timel and in proper spaced rebut, ir desired, Vsuitable means may be provided lation. or increasing this pressure, such as weights 24. A further object of the invention is to provide One ci the conveyor shafts is connected with' a 20. `aniachine or this character which is adjustable suitable source of power and; as here shown, the to accommodate it to cans and labels of diierent forward shaft 17 is provided .with a sprocket sizes.` w 'wheel 125 by means of which it may be connected `Other obit-:cts of the invention will appear as with a motor. Guide' bars 25 and 26 are arranged thev machine is described in detail. aboveand along the respective sides of the runfIn 'the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a side 'v/'ayto engage' the ends of the cans and properly 25 elevation'cf a machine embodying rny invention; position them on the runway. kPreferably one ig. 2 is 1a? planv view of the saine; Fig. 3 is a of these guide bars is slidablesc that it will ex- 'longitudinal sectionalv View taken centrally of erta light pressure' on theY end-or the can and themachine; Fig. i is a transverse section taken press the other end thereof against'the other 3H on the lline-Ay 1 -4 of Fig. l; Fig. 5 is a transverse guide bar. For this purpose the guide "bar 25 30 section taken on the line 5-5 o 1; Fig. 5 is carried by 'rods 27 slidably mounted'v in the isa transverse section taken on the line 6 6 of standards 23 and is acted upon by springs28.

Fig. 1,*'looking in 'the direction o the arrows; To accommodate the guide bars to cans odif Fig. 7 is a section taken on the line 7-7 of Fig, ierent lengths the bar 26 is carried by rods 29 5 2;I andV Figs. Sand 9 are sectional views on the slidably mounted in the adjacent standardsY 21 35 lines-#3v of Fig. 7 on a larger scale. and secured in adjusted positions thereinby set 1 lIn these drawings I have illustrated one emscrews 30. y y n bodiinent oi Vrny invention and have shown the TheV cans are delivered to the runway by means same-ascornprising a main frame 1o mounted'on of an inclined chute-31 and are discharged over 'legs ll andV supporting a runway which extends a second inclined chute 32. The delivery of the 40 for substantially the full length thereof. The cans from the chute to the runway is so conf -forw'afrd portion of this runway comprises a pair trolled as to cause the can tobe delivered one'at 'of vtrack"members 12 and the rear portion of the a time and at properly spaced intervals. In the runway comprises a at supporting member 13 pres'ent'construction thecontrolling meanscoinwhich rnayyif desired, be provided with a yield- 'prises a pulleyor drum 33 which is carried by a 45 able surface, vsuch as a rubber inat 14. The ad-V shaft 34 mounted in the outer ends'of alpair of 'jacent ends of the portions l2 land le of the runarms 35 which are pivotally mounted onf the way arespaced apart and this intermediate porshaft .17. A belt 36 extends about the'drum 33 tionof the runway is formed by the upper edges and about a secondV pulley. or drum 37 secured 'oi the side members of a label supporting device, to the shaft 17. The arrangement is such that 50 aswillbe' hereinafter described. Suitable means the drum 33 will be located normally in the path are-'provided for moving the cans lengthwise of of the cans on the chute 31 and its position may 'therunway and this means preferably comprises be regulated by means of adjustable stops, such .an endless conveyor which is.k here shown asV conasscrews 33 carried by the arms'and engaging sisting of two sprocket chains 15 which extend the Ysupplenierrtal frame 22, on which the shaft 55 17 is mounted. As the cans move down the inclined chute the foremost can will engage the belt on the drum 33 and its movement will be retarded but the frictional contact of the belt with the can will move the same beneath the drum 33, the latter rising to permit the passing of the can and when the can has passed the drum it will roll by gravity onto the runway. The drum is operated in timed relation to the movement of the main conveyor so as to cause the cans to be delivered thereto at the proper intervals. As here shown the drum 33 is of a diam- 'eter considerably greater than the diameter of the drum 37 so that the belt and theV drum 33 move at a speed somewhat less than the speed of the main conveyor.

Arranged beneath the runway and between the ends thereof is a suitable structure for supporting a pile of labels with the uppermost label in a position to be engaged by a can on the runway. This structure is here shown as a housing comprising fixed end walls 39 and 4() and fixed side walls 4l and 42. Extending through the bottom of the housing is a plunger 43 having at its upper end a head or platform 44 on which the pile of labels, 45, rests. The lower end of this plunger is connected with one end of a lever 46 which is pivotally mounted on a bracket 47 depending from the main frame and is acted upon by a spring 48 which tends to move the plunger and the labels upwardly, the upward movement of Lthe labels being limited, as will be hereinafter described. To accommodate this label supporting structure to labels of different sizes it may be provided with supplemental and adjustable side and end members. The supplemental side member, see Fig. 5, comprises a plate 49 carried by a bar 5G which extends through the fixed side wall 42 and may be secured in adjusted positions with relation thereto by a thumb screw 51 which extends over a bracket 52 having a slot 155 on the fixed side Wall. The adjustable end member comprises a relatively narrow plate 53 carried by a. bar 54 extending through the fixed end wall 40 and having a slot 55 to receive a bolt 56 by means of which it may be secured to a bracket 57 on the fixed side wall. Thus these adjustable side and end members may be so positioned with relation to the opposed xed side and end members as to accommodate labels of various sizes. The upper edges o'f the fixed side member 41 and the adjustable side member 49 constitute portions of the runway and serve to support the can as it moves over the pile of labels. If desired, the space between the fixed end wall 40 and the adjustable end member 53 may be bridged by bars The forward portions of the edges of the side members are cut away or depressed so that they `are substantially flush with the surface of the uppermost label, thus permitting a can supported on those edges to engage the uppermost label. The rear portions of these edges project above the uppermost label, as shown at 59, for a purpose which will hereinafter appear. The upward movement of the pile of labels is limited by a stationary part of a paste applying device, which is indicated as a whole at 60, and a short lip 61 carried by the adjustable end member 53 overlaps the forward end of the uppermost label on the pile.

The tracks 12 forming the front portion of the runway are in the form of plates of sufficient width to accommodate cans of varying lengths but are spaced apart a distance sucient to receive between them a suitable device for applying paste to the can as it moves along the runway. As here shown, this paste applying device comprises a roller 62 mounted in a paste receptacle 63 arranged beneath the tracks and provided with a hopper 164 by means of which paste may be delivered thereto. The roller 62 projects upwardly between the tracks 12 to a point slightly above the surfaces thereof so that it will be engaged by and will apply paste to aA can passing over the tracks; This roller may be of any suitable character and, in the present instance, it comprises a series of disks secured to a shaft 64 and spaced apart lengthwise thereof by means of spacing collars 65. The shaft is mounted in the side walls of the receptacle 63 and extends laterally from that receptacle through a bearing 66 and is provided beyond that bearing with suitable means for rotating the same, such as a sprocket wheel 67. The paste applying roller 62 is spaced from the forward edge of the pile of labels 45 such a distance that a can will.make substantially one complete rotation as it moves from the paste applying roller to the pile of labels, thus causing that portion of the can to which the paste has been applied to engage the forward portion of the uppermost label. For the purpose of accommodating the paste applyingdevice to cans of different sizes and labels of different lengths the roller-is mounted for adjustment toward and from the pile of labelsV and, in the present instance, the paste receptacle 63 is mounted for movement lengthwise of the machine. For this purpose the receptacle-is carried by a sub-frame 68 which is mounted upon the side members of the main frame 10 and may be secured in adjusted positions thereon by screws 69 which pass through slots 70. The bearing 66 is carried by this sub-frame and is adjustable therewith and the adjacent side member of the main frame is slotted, as shown at 70, to permit the receptacle and the shaft to be moved lengthwise thereof. The sub-frame is open at its bottom to permit the receptacle to be inserted in and removed from the same and suitable fastening devices, such as clips 71, are attached to the sub-frame to support the receptacle therein. The driving mechanism for the paste applying roller is of such a character that it will accommodate itself to the various positions to which the receptacle and roller may be adjusted. As here shown, a sprocket chain 72 extends about a sprocket wheel 73 on the shaft 17 and about a second sprocket wheel 74 arranged below the paste receptacle and the intermediate'portion of that sprocket chain is in operative engagement A with the sprocket wheel 67 on the roller shaft. The lower sprocket wheel 74 is carried by an arm 75 which is pivotally mounted on lugs 76, depending from the sub-frame 68, by means of a bolt 77 by means of which the arm and sprocket wheel 74 may be secured in adjusted positions.

Paste is applied to the rear portion ofthe uppermost label and as the can passes from the paste applying roller 62 over the pile of labels it picks up the forward edge of the uppermost label, wraps the label about itself and then withdraws the rear portion of the label from the paste applying device and causes the pasted end thereof to overlie the front end of the label, thus completing the application of the label to the can. 'Ihe means for applying the paste to the rearportion of the label can take various forms and is arranged as applying device preferably comprises an endless conveyor arranged to receive paste from a suitable source of supply, as by passing the same tl'rropghA a paste. receptacle, and Yto move across thlab'el andv thus carry the paste into engagement with the label and distribute the same across the width of the label. The conveyor is formed ci. metal, or equivalent material, and is of such af character that it may be positively driven so as to prevent the slipping thereof. The outer surface ofv the conveyor isV roughened, or provided with cavities, and as the conveyor passes through the paste receptacle-this roughened surface will takeup a quantity of the paste, portions of which will project beyondpthe surface of the conveyor and. will be .applied to the label as the conveyor moves across the same, thus` insuring the application of a proper amountof paste to each label. Suche conveyor may conveniently comprise a pli'iralityroiv parts so connected as to impart the necessary ilexibility to-the conveyor and arranged to provide spaces between the parts to receive the paste. Ifdesired, a tubular guideway may be provided 4through which the conveyor will travel, the.k guideway having an opening or openings to permitofthe application of the paste to the label. In the particular construction here shown this paste applying device comprises a tubular member 'lfwhich extends across the runway and has its lower surface arranged to engage the uppermost label, the, lower wall vof the tubularv member having 4a series of openings 79 through which paste may pass therefrominto contact with the V`label.l One end of this tubular member projects laterallyfrom the runway and opens into a paste receptacle ,80 in which is mounted a sprocket wheell. Asprocket chain 82 extends about the sprocket wheel Sloand through the tubular memmer, thence through acurved guide 83, which communicates with the opposite end of the tubular member, andrback above the runways to the sprocket wheel 3l.Y The links of the sprocket chain will carry pasteirorn the receptacle 80 'through the tube anddeliver the same through the. openings 79 onto the uppermost label. Preferably the lower portion of the tube is provided with means'for directing the paste through the openings and, as here shown, theforward edges of.those portions of the tube which lie in the rear of,the, respectiveopenings 79 Vare bent upwardly, as shown at 84, and lie close to the sprocket chain sothat they willremove paste therefrom and direct the same through the openings and Valso permit the v,paste to pass beneath those portions of;l thetube between the openings sothat paste4 will beapplied acrosssubstantially the entire wfidthrof the label. The sprocket'wheel 81 may be driven` in any suitable manner. As here shown, it is mounted on a shaft 85 journaled in thepaste receptacle 8O and connected by a :flexibleA joint V8.with a second shaft 87 which in lturn is connected by beveled gears 88 with the shaft Sfijvhich carries the paste applying roller. 62. If desired, means may be provided for moving the ,label out of Contact with the lower portion of the tubular member so as to prevent the paste from being scraped off the same as the label is withdrawn. For this purpose I have mounted just in the rear of the tubular member '78 a bar V89 which is capable of vertical movement with relation to the tubular member and the lower edge of which engages the uppermost label of the pile. When this bar is in its normal position, see Fig. 8, its upper edge projects above the tubular member and above the runway into the path of a can on the runway so that as the can passes above the tubular member the bar will be Y s forced downwardly and depress` the pile of labels, against the action of the spring 48, and thus move the uppermost label out of` engagement with the tubular member 78, see Fig, 9. As soon asthe canhas passed the labels will'be returned-to their i,

normal positionsY withY the uppermost label in contact with the paste applying Vtube 78. Ashas been heretofore stated, the rear portions of the edges of the side members of the label supporting structure, which constitute partsof the runway,

project above the pile of labels and thus guide` the can above `the paste applying tube '78. Mounted on these upwardly projectinged-ges are holding lingers S90-which havetheir ends turned inwardly abovev the uppermost label and act on the same in aiwvell'known manner.

Whilel have shown and described one embodiment of my invention I wishit to be understood that I do not desire to be limited-to the details thereof-asv various modiiications may occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having nowk fully describedy myfinvention, what o I claim as new and desire Patent, `is:

l. In alabeling machine, a runway, means Yfor moving a canover said runway, meansfor supto secure by Lettersv porting a pile of labels beneath saidrunway with the uppermost label adjacent thereto, means-.in advance of, said pile of labels for yapplying paste to said can, a paste. applying device arranged' above the rear end of said pile of labels andnormaily engagingxthe'uppermost label, and lmeans controlled by the can on said runway to depress.

said pile ci labels assaid can rn'iovesover said paste applying device.

2; In a labeling machine, a runway, means for.-

movinga can over said runway, means for supe porting a pile vof labels beneath said runwaywith the uppermost label adjacent thereto, meansxin. f

advance of said pile of labels for applying paste to said can, a tubular member arranged above the rear end Vof said pile of labels with its lower wall normally-inV contact with said-uppermost label and having' openings through-'said lower wail, means for delivering paste throughr saidv tubular member tosaid uppermost label, and a member vmovably mounted adjacent. to saidrtubular member with' its lowerV portionv in contact with said uppermost label yand its upper portion' in the path of a can onsaid runway, whereby Athe Y movement of said can past said tubular member will cause said movable member to depress said pile of labels. Y s

` 3. In a labeling machine, a runway, means for moving cans along said runway, means forsupporting apile of -labels'beneath said runway with the uppermost label inthe path of Va can o-n rsaid runway, means .in advance of said supporting. meansfor applying paste. to a canlonsaid runway, and a paste applying device supported above said pile of'labels and comprising'a conduit engaging the uppermost label and having openingsin' the engaging rvwall thereof., andan endless conveyorv fonmoving paste through said conduitand de livering the same to said openings.

4. In a labeling machine, a paste applying device comprising a tubular conduit having an opening in one wall thereof, anda paste feeding device mounted in said tubular conduit for move- Aent lengthwise thereof. f 5. In a labeling machine, a paste applying device comprising a paste receptacle, la .tubular member connected at one end with said receptacle andhaving an opening in one wall thereof, and an endless conveyor extending-through lsaid vicezcompr'ising a` paste receptacle,V a tubular member connected atone end with said receptacle and having-openings in one wall thereof, and an endless conveyor extending throughrsaid paste -receptacle and through said tubular member, said wall of said vtubular member having parts' adjacent to said opening to divert the paste from said conveyor to said openings.

In a labeling machine, a paste applying device comprising'a tubular member having openings in one'wall thereof, a paste receptacle oommunicating with said tubular member, and an endless conveyor movable through said tubular member to 'convey paste from said receptacle to said openings, those portions ofthe wall of said tubular member which lie between adjacent openings being bent upwardly to form an inwardly extending lip in the -rear of each opening.

78'. In a labeling machine, a paste applying device 'comprising a paste receptacle, a tubular member communicating at one end with said receptacle and having an opening in one wall thereof, a sprocket wheel supported insaid paste receptacle, a Ycurved guide communicating with y the other end of said tubularv member, and a sprocket chainV extending about said sprocket wheel, :through said tubular member and about said guide. Y

Q In a labeling machine having means for supporting ka pile of labels in a position to be engaged by a can moving through said machine,

a paste receptacle, a conduit leading from said receptacle to said pile of labels, and aA conveyor movable lengthwise through said receptacle and said conduit and across the uppermost label of said pile to deliver paste to said label.

10. In a labeling machine vhaving means for supporting' a'pile of labels, a source of supply of paste, an endless metallic conveyor communicating with said source of supply and movable longitudinally across the outer label of said pile, said conveyor having a roughened surface to receive the paste and move the same into engagement with the label as said conveyor travels across said Y label, and means for positively driving said conveyor. Y Y

1l; Ina labeling machine having means for supporting a-pile of labels, a source of supply of parts to receive the paste and move the same into. engagement with the label as the conveyor trav els across saidlabel, and means to drive said conveyor. f f i Y u l2, InV a labeling machine, a paste receptacle, an endless conveyor movable through said receptacle and across the outer label of said pile, that side of said conveyor which is adjacent to said label having cavities to receive the paste and distribute `the same across the label'as said conveyor travels over said label, andfmeans for actuating said'conveyor. Y

13. Ina labeling machine, a paste receptacle, a label holder Yto support a pile of labels, a coneyor movable lengthwise through said receptacle and across the outer label of lsaid pile of labels to convey paste from said receptacle and distribute the same on said label as said conveyor moves across said label, said conveyor having a longitudinal series of openings, and fa toothed wheel to drive said conveyor. Y 14. In a labeling machine, a paste receptacle; a sprocket chain movable lengthwise ythrough said receptacle and across the outer label of said pile to convey paste from said receptacle' and dis'- tribute the same on said label as said chain travels across said labeLand a sprocket Wheelto drive said sprocket chain. v Y '15. In a labeling machine having means for supporting a pile oi labels, a source `of supply of paste, an endless metallic conveyor communicating with said source of supply-,and movable'longitudinallyracross the outer label of said pile, said conveyor' having a roughened surfaceV to'receive the paste and move the same into engagementY with the label as said conveyor travels across said label, means arranged between said conveyor and said label to positively'separate portionsof the` paste from the roughened surface of said conveyor,'and means for driving said conveyor. v

16. In a labeling machine, having meansfor supporting a pile of labels, a source of supply of paste, an endless metallic conveyor communicating with said source'of supply and movable longitudinally across the outer label of said pile of labels, said conveyor being adapted to receive paste andrrnove the same into engagement with said label as said Vbelt travels across said label, and means ici' positively actuating said metallic con- Veyor'. 4 Y f I7. In a. labelingmachine, a runway, means for moving a can along said runway, means for supporting a pile of labels'beneath said runway with the uppermost label adjacent to the path of the can on said runway, a paste receptacle mounted beneath said runway in advance of said pileof labels foradjustment toward and from said pile 'f labels, a shaft journaled in said receptacle and extending beyond one side thereof, a roller carried by said shaft within said receptacle and projecting into the path of a can on said runway, driving mechanism for said roller comprising sprocket wheels arranged on opposite sides of said shaft, one of said sprocket wheels being supported by said receptacle and being adjustable toward and -from the other sprocket wheel, a

sprocket Achain Aextending aboutsaid sprocket wheels, 'anda sprocket wheel mounted `on theV outer .end of said roller shaft'and engaging an intermediate portionof said sprocket chain.V

SAMUEL E. MORRAL. r- 

